Creating Bonehenge Whale Center
Our Mission
The Bonehenge Whale Center in Beaufort, NC is a facility from which to base research, exhibit preparation and display, marine conservation, educational programming, outreach, publications, and stranded specimen collection & maintenance that focus on NC cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), past and present.
We're open for visitors (by appointment, for now)!
Final Certification of Occupancy received. 289 donors and 78 volunteers from 17 states and 5 countries made it happen!
Construction completed
Construction complete, the Bonehenge Whale Center received a provisional Certificate of Occupancy allowing for setup and stocking the new facility while we awaited water/sewer.
Bonehenge Whale Center Construction
Construction takes place on the new Bonehenge Whale Center facility.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
With the 1st $100,000 raised, a ground-breaking celebration began the volunteer-led construction of the new facility.
Land Blessing Ceremony
A land-blessing ceremony prepared the property and supporters for the building construction.
Fundraising website is launched
Bonehenge.org was launched featuring a $300,000 grass-roots fundraiser for the building construction.
Land for future Bonehenge was purchased
Land was purchased by the Carolina Cay Maritime Foundation bordering the NC Maritime Museum’s Gallants Channel Annex. The name “Bonehenge Whale Center” was chosen.
Design & Funding
Rough concept plans and sketches were developed. The Carolina Cay Maritime Foundation adopted a mission to pursue a new “Bonehenge 2.”
Making big plans
Over several celebrations, meals, and meetings, volunteers hatched a plan to take the Bonehenge idea further by creating a more substantial and permanent facility.
Rearticulation of Echo's skeleton completed
That skeletal sperm whale display (named “Echo”) was completed in March 2012 and is on display at the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC.
See video below to hear Keith Rittmaster talk about the rearticulation of Echo.
Bonehenge was built with a purpose
Bonehenge was custom designed specifically for the bone preparation and skeletal rearticulation of a 33.5’ sperm whale that stranded alive and died at Cape Lookout on January 31, 2004.
The original idea of "Bonehenge" was conceived.
In eight days, 22 amazing volunteers conspired to build the original “Bonehenge”, a 20’ x 40’ pole barn, on the McCutcheon’s property powered by cookies and incredible lunches.
Meet “Echo”
The above video features Bonehenge director Keith Rittmaster when he announced the completed skeletal rearticulation of the deceased, stranded sperm whale, Echo.
